November 20, 1944, Fresno, California

Tom and Zoe have moved into an apartment near the base, and are sharing it with his pilot friend, Bob Clyde and Bob’s wife, Jean. They had a dinner party for their friends.

Sun afternoon

November 20, 1944, Fresno, California, Page 1
November 20, 1944, Fresno, California, Page 1

Dear Folks,

Just because we haven’t written for ages doesn’t mean that we’ve been shipped out. We had some trouble in getting a place to stay but now everything is straightened out. Bob Clyde and his wife are staying with us, we have two rooms in a house now but will be moving to a new place in about a week. The new place is really nice it is all being re-done. It is a regular apt. and we were plenty lucky in getting it. It rents for $80.00 but that split between two of us isn’t so bad. It is all furnished except the bedding.

We have really been a rough schedule, in fact it compares alot with cadets. Flying mostly at night either from 6:00 till 9:30 or 9:30 till 1:00 AM. also have ground school and P.T.[1]Physical Training, or exercise we haven’t anything else to do. I am really well satisfied with my R.O. [2]Radio Operator, who operates the Radar in the plane he seems to know his stuff pretty well and what he doesn’t know he’s going to learn. We don’t know yet where we are going to be sent, but wherever it is I don’t think we will be there long. In the last bunch 7 went to Europe and the rest to C.B.I[3]China, Burma, India Andy (my R.O.) is from Portland, Oregon, he lives just about a block from us here in town. He’s 24 and has been married about 3 mos.

November 20, 1944, Fresno, California, Page 2
November 20, 1944, Fresno, California, Page 2

We are going out to the base in alittle while so Zoe will add to this letter out there. We fly till 10:00 tonight so she’s going out and wait for me. They have a nice club and a good mess hall. I see that she’s ready to go so will close. Tell Dad that I got a knife out here at the P.X. and if he wants to get me something for Xmas, have U. Les [4]Tom’s Uncle Leslie DeMoulin fix me up a pair of O.D. pants and O.D. shirt. Goodbye –

With love, Tom


Dear Elaine, Stanley and Family –

Tom just left me to go to the flight line so thought I would add a note to his letter. I just finished calling my Dad – his birthday today – told me it was snowing there. The rainy season hasn’t started here as yet but it is cold enough for my fur coat – and I brought my bathing suit along!

November 20, 1944, Fresno, California, Page 3
November 20, 1944, Fresno, California, Page 3

We had a small dinner party last night – celebrating our anniversary. Jean and Bob, Johnnie, and Tom’s R.O. and his wife. We don’t have a stove or anything to cook on at the place we are living now so we had it at this little Basque restaurant – they serve delicious food – family style and all you can eat. – which suits the fellows fine. It always amazes me how they can eat so much and still not accumulate spreading hips, etc.

Elaine, I wore the black “nightie” – in fact Tom is quite fond of it. He talks about it so much. Bob decided to get his wife one like it.

I suppose Tom has told me we have some wedding pictures – will send you some as soon as I can find something to mail them in.

Love, Zoe

November 20, 1944, Fresno, California
November 20, 1944, Fresno, California

References

References
1 Physical Training, or exercise
2 Radio Operator, who operates the Radar in the plane
3 China, Burma, India
4 Tom’s Uncle Leslie DeMoulin

A Young Man Went Off to War